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How To Survive the Holidays

The holiday season is a time for family gatherings, cheerful caroling, gift buying, giving, and receiving, spreading Christmas joy and being hopeful for the New Year and the possibilities it may bring.
BUT, for some, it can also be a time of stressful budgeting, loneliness, long to do lists, and annoyance from the interruption in one’s routine.

There’s no reason to let the holiday blues swallow you this year. Here are some tips:

Be prepared for family and friends you think may not even make it. Buy gifts for them that you yourself would enjoy, that way they won’t be wasted either way. You also have the option to mail the gift to them. Just make sure to remember all those special to you, whether you get to see them or not.

Accept your limitations and don’t feel pressured to be Santa Claus. Don’t feel pressured to go over your budget just because you think they’re spending more. Don’t break the bank. Shop smart (Shop S-mart, for those Army of Darkness fans, haha)!

Pace yourself. Prioritize and make a to do list. Set small goals to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Don’t let your schedule rule you, make time for yourself like always.

Make time for those extra special. You’ll be a busy bee, seeing everyone for a while, but make sure those really special people don’t fall through the cracks. Make special time and special memories with them.

Get your Christmas cards done in one sitting. Make a list and get them taken care of. Include everyone you can think of. No one will be unhappy to receive your thoughts and it can actually make someone’s day.

Among all of the commercialism that surrounds the holiday season, try to remember to make it special, to give meaning to you holiday. Begin and commit to a unique tradition, something that “feels” like Christmas for you, year after year. A wonderful tradition is also to volunteer. Help someone in need. Movies and music are a big tradition as well. It’s not Christmas, for me, until I’ve watched the old Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, A Christmas Story, and Christmas Vacation.

Keep your cool and remember that it is a joyful time, as long as you MAKE it a joyful time. It’s up to you!

Don’t forget to enter our holiday contest, Best Christmas Songs, for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Giftcard! It ends Tuesday, December 31st – so hurry!